Paraffin Technique, Cells, Epithelium Flashcards
INSTRUMENTS USED IN THE STUDY
OF HISTOLOGY
- TISSUE CASSETTE/MOULDER
- PARAFFIN DISPENSER
- TISSUE BLOCK CUTTER
- ROTARY MICROTOME
- MICROTOME BLADES
- TISSUE FLOATER
- TISSUE SLIDE DRYER
- MICROSCOPE
- AUTOMATIC PROCESSOR
- H & E STAIN
➢ Acquisition of tissue samples
• From the slaughterhouse or thru biopsy
• The most critical step (time)
• Size of tissue to be collected –
match box
➢Fixation of tissue samples
Fixatives denature the protein contents and inactivates the
enzymes of the tissue thereby rendering a almost in vivo condition
Formaldehyde, picric acid, osmic acid, mercuric chloride, acetone
are common simple fixative
However, no single fixative is commonly used
10% NBF is the most commonly used
Length of fixation depends on the size of the tissue
➢ Washing of fixed tissues
• Removal of excess fixative through running water
➢Dehydration of washed tissue
• Immersion of washed tissue to increasing concentration of alcohol (70-100% ethyl alcohol) to remove excess water.
➢Clearing of dehydrated tissue
The removal of alcohol that has been introduced during dehydration
Alcohol is not miscible with the paraffin embedding medium and should be removed
Xylene is the most commonly used clearing agent
➢Impregnation/infiltration of cleared tissue
•Immersion of cleared tissue to paraffin solution that may permit cutting of thin sections w/out damage to tissue and
its cellular components
➢Embedding/casting/blocking
•Impregnated tissue is placed in molder or boat filled with melted paraffin and allowed to solidify to form block
➢Trimming of tissue blocks
•Paraffin blocks are then cut of excess paraffin to expose the tissue surface in preparation for actual
cutting
➢Sectioning of tissue blocks
•The cutting of tissue block into thin sections ( 5-7 microns) with the aid of a microtome, sections tend to form tissue ribbons
➢Mounting of tissue sections into glass slides
•Tissue” ribbons” are floated in warm water bath to stretch or flatten them
•Selected sections are then mounted onto a glass slides and allowed to dry ( air or oven)
The removal of paraffin from the tissue sections by immersion to xylene.
Deparaffinization
Introduction of water to deparaffinized sections through decreasing concentrations of alcohol (100-70%) to water in preparation for staining.
Rehydration
Routinely used is the H & E stain
- Basic dye Hematoxylin react with the acidic components of the cell, the nucleus which stains blue
- Acidic dye Eosin react to the basic cellular components of the cell, the cytoplasm that colors pink to red
Staining with acid/base dyes
Staining Process
- Deparaffinization
- Rehydration
- Staining with acid/base dyes
- Washing
- Dehydration
- Clearing
- Mounting
The smallest and basic unit structure of a protoplasm that can exist independently.
Cell
The collective term for the living substance of the cell of a plant or an animal.
Protoplasm
The sum of all chemical reactions occurring
within the cell.
Metabolism
A reaction resulting from the synthesis of new molecular components essential for growth, maintenance and repair
Anabolism
A reaction resulting to the degradation of cellular components with the release of energy
Catabolism
The ability of the cell to respond to stimuli in their
environment
Irritability
The ability of the cell to shorten along their long axes (special property of muscle)
Contractility
The ability of the cell to elaborate useful new substances.
Example - secretion of the hepatocytes of bile, pancreatic juice by the pancreas
Secretion
The ability of the cell to get rid of the waste product of metabolism.
Ex. Urine by the kidney, feces by the GIT
Excretion